"Opening the case, Richard Atkins QC, said: 'The defendant is a transgender athlete in dispute with UK Athletics about eligibility to compete as a male athlete.

'She had not provided the relevant samples to her testosterone levels and other relevant documentation.'

As a result, her racing results had been declared null and void, the court heard."

"The week before the attack, Mr Knibbs had gone to meet Jeska at her home to discuss the 'long-term' issue with the sporting governing body.

Mr Atkins added that following the incident, Jeska told a psychiatrist 'she fantasised about going to the Alexander Stadium and killing all of the staff'.

Describing the attack, the prosecution barrister said: 'CCTV captured what can only be described as a frenzied attack.

'She lunged and attacked him about the head and neck area using both knives, making repeated attempts to stab him.'"

"Mr Knibbs himself told the court the 'traumatic, life-changing experience' had robbed him of his independence, with long-term nerve damage suffered both in the attack and by necessary life-saving surgery afterwards.

He had also suffered a stroke during the assault, resulting in partial permanent sight-loss."

"The judge told Jeska, of Wesley Terrace, her attack had been 'planned and executed with chilling precision', calling the case a 'deeply disturbing and complex one'."

"Mr Drew said: 'This was a cool, calculated attack and watching the CCTV, we can all see that.'"

Jeska's parents said

'Whatever the technical psychiatric diagnosis, it is clear to us as parents that the assault is only understandable as the consequence of a mental health crisis precipitated by the affair with the UKA.'

This is why their needs to be CLEAR rules. A total ban in world sport on athletes changing gender.

It’s interesting that both the BBC and the Mail have two photographs of Jeska: a “pretty” one and the police mugshot which isn’t flattering.

The Mail leads with the mugshot, and the first paragraph is: “A former champion fell-runner has been jailed for 18 years for trying to kill an official after British Athletics threatened to strip her of her titles because she was born a man.”

The BBC leads with the “pretty” one and the opening paragraphs don’t mention that Jeska was born male – so anyone who didn’t read further wouldn’t have realised what the attack was really all about.

The injuries to Ralph Knibbs were appalling. Long-term nerve damage and a stroke during the attack which led to him losing some of his sight. The fact that he is still alive is due to his own actions in trying to fend Jeska off, the bravery of his colleagues and the surgeons who operated on him. Otherwise he would be dead.

What an awful thing to happen when you were just trying to do your job.

Completely agree about the parents' statement. What I'm not clear about from today's reports is whether UK Athletics knew all along that Jeska was transgender. I also feel for the athletes who did not win the title. They were competing against someone who grew up male, was taller and stronger than they were and therefore far harder to beat. That doesn't seem fair.

"After the assault at Alexander Stadium, the 41-year-old athlete's brother claimed that he had psychological problems. Indicating that he came from a troubled family, Nick said that he had two brothers, with Lauren, but that one died tragically. [note: he jumped in front of a train 2013]

Confessing to see Lauren's gender-changing surgery as the second death in the family, Nick added that after the misfortunes of the family, everyone was destroyed. Having countless athletic achievements since 1997, Jeska won several medals at the time, with his career and Michael Jameson's name.

Jeska, who had a sex-change operation in 2000 after 3 years of hormone therapy and started his new life with the name Lauren, was charged with attempting to kill Ralph Knibbs who revealed this fact."

Julie Warburton, representing Jeska, said: 'She has said she feels awful about happened to Mr Knibbs and was extremely shocked to hear of the effects of her actions.'

and

^After the hearing, Jeska's parents Pauline and Graham Jameson (pictured, right) said in a statement: 'We deeply regret the injury inflicted on Ralph Knibbs'.They added that the attack was 'out of character' for their daughter.^

The attack didn't just happen it was inflicted by Jeska, by their child - this distancing language is appalling. Not taking responsibility for the actions of the person who tried to murder a man.

It's also stigmatizing of people with mental health conditions. Lots of people have a mental health crisis precipitated by a stressful event and/or a perceived injustice, most do not go and stick knives in people though.

Radio report I heard earlier didn't even mention that there was a transgender issue. Just said former fell runner stabbed an official following a dispute.

Then I read some stuff online which gave a clearer picture.

I don't understand how in the olympics a lot,of transgender athletes were allowed to compete as women but this person wasn't. I'm sure I read during the olympics that some transgender athletes could compete as long as rheir testoterone levels we're below a certain figure.....but this figure Would still be higher than a woman could possibly have.